Eating More Vegetables May Lower Risk of Five Cancers, Oxford Study Finds

Adopting a vegetable-rich diet may significantly reduce the risk of several types of cancer, according to a large-scale medical study conducted in the United Kingdom.

Researchers at University of Oxford found that regularly consuming vegetables was linked to a notably lower risk of at least five different cancers. The study analyzed data from more than 1.8 million people, tracking their health and dietary habits over a period of 16 years.

Participants were divided into several dietary groups, including regular vegetable eaters, poultry consumers (those who avoided red meat), fish eaters, and individuals who followed a strictly plant-based diet. Researchers also took into account other cancer-related risk factors such as body weight and tobacco use.

The findings showed that people who regularly consumed vegetables had a 21 percent lower risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk of bladder cancer was reduced by 12 percent, while breast cancer risk declined by 9 percent.

The study further revealed that compared to meat-eaters, vegetable lovers had a 28 percent lower risk of kidney cancer and a 31 percent lower risk of bone marrow cancer.

Researchers described the findings as encouraging news for those who prefer vegetables, noting that a plant-focused diet may help reduce the likelihood of developing multiple forms of cancer.

However, the study also highlighted potential concerns. While vegetable consumption appeared protective against certain cancers, individuals who consumed only vegetables showed an increased risk of esophageal cancer. One possible explanation is that plant-only diets may lack certain essential nutrients, such as B vitamins, commonly found in meat.

Additionally, the research suggested that a strictly vegetable-based diet was associated with up to a 40 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer, possibly due to lower calcium intake.

The researchers emphasized that further studies are needed to confirm these findings and better understand the complex relationship between diet and cancer risk.